"Facebook for Parents" classes scheduled!

Trying to keep up with your kids online? Do you (or someone you know!) need a roadmap to help you out? Take a look at the 'Facebook for Parents' class that will be offered locally in the near future:

With great power - Facebook - comes great responsibility - as a parent! Learn how information technology is shared, what you have control over, and how you can make it a better experience for your kids and your family.

Carlisle, PA:
Thursday, January 20th, 6:30-8:30pm
CyberSpace Computer Resource Center
219 North Pitt Street, Carlisle
Check out all of their offerings at their web site: http://www.carlislepa.org/ .
You can sign up online at: http://activenet14.active.com/carlislerec/ .

Mechanicsburg, PA:
Thursday March 24, 7:00-8:30pm
Mechanicsburg Middle School, room 158
1720 S. Market St, Mechanicsburg
Check out all their offerings at their web site: http://www.mbgsd.org/recreation .
You can sign up online at: http://activenet10.active.com/mechareaparkrec/ .

Slots are already filling up, so don't delay! Signing up is easy, just follow the links above.  Can't make these dates? Not to worry, more classes will be coming in May!

Do you have a group that would be interested in a personalized class? Contact me! If you have a location with Internet access, I can hold a special session just for your group! Some examples of groups that would benefit:

Church groups
Red Hat Society
Play Date groups
School PTO meetings
And more!

Hope to see you in class!

Facebook impersonations at the AT&Tstore

So we were at the AT&T store the other day looking at cell phones, playing around with all the phones on display along the wall.  Now they are all fully functional phones, to really give you a good feel for how they operate.  So being the immature one that I am, I pick up one of the phones and start texting and calling my wife, who is on the other side of the store.  Hilarious, I tell you.

 

Anyway, I look further, and I start to poke around at the web access features on the phones.  Turns out a lot of them have a Facebook app installed, and wouldn't you know it, on the first one I pick up, the phone is already logged in to someone's Facebook account.  

Facebook Dad Web Roundup

Some funny stuff, some items to make you think, and some that are just ridiculous; it's this week's Facebook Dad web roundup!



So your Mom found Facebook?  Protect yourself with the 'Damn it, My Mom is on Facebook Filter' courtesy of Saturday Night Live:




Worried about kids getting bullied online? Well adults can be bullies too; check out this repulsive neighbor cyber-bullying a 7 year old girl dying of a genetic disease:

Goo-goo-google! Reports say that 81 percent of 2 year olds have a presence online, and many parents are putting info about their kids online even while they are still in utero! 

For anyone with kids, you know you can't tag them in photos in Facebook unless they have a Facebook page of their own.  Well Facebook is fixing the 'can't tag your baby' issue…  Why now?  Well because Facebook execs are growing up and having kids of their own; they now understand the dilemma! 

And finally, what was this one thinking? The story of the Duke University student who wrote a mock 'thesis' about her male conquests and posted it online; naming names and ranking them! 

Enjoy and share!

You can tell us anything.

My old alma mater was in the news this past week, but not in a way that anyone wants.  Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student, after having his private encounters unknowingly filmed and subsequently broadcast via various social networks, committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge in New York. 

He used the same technology that was used to humiliate and devastate him, to declare his final act; his final Facebook status simply stated: 

        jumping off the gw bridge sorry

There are so many sides to this story; privacy issues, improper use of technology, hate crimes, and more.  But I felt compelled to chime in on one aspect of this story.  To anyone who is holding back important information, because you are fearful of Mom and Dad's reaction, this message is for you, from all parents:

Facebook Dad web roundup

Thank you to all of you who attended my "Facebook for Parents" class!  There is another session scheduled for October 7; click here to access the course list and just search the course listing!


"Uh, Mom, I think we'll need some more cake…"  A 14-year old's party is cancelled after 21,000 people RSVP on Facebook.

Kids at college, and you’re still in their business?  Cut the cord!  Some info about the 'digitally connected parent'.

They sure don't hesitate to contact me when the semester bill is due, but apparently, by law a parent can not be given info about their college student's activities/grades/etc without the student's consent. 

Is it just me, or are most TV dads complete idiots?  Here's a retrospective of TV's best dads, courtesy of "The Art of Manliness".

Here's an intriguing & inspiring new book from Emily Liebert - "Facebook Fairytales"!